Instead of allies, PASOK and SYRIZA butt heads

Despite comments by former PASOK leader George Papandreou on Sunday that the victory of Haris Doukas in the Athens mayoral race was a great opportunity for an alliance with SYRIZA in view of the European elections, PASOK’s leadership does not share the same view.

Given the strife within the leftist party, senior PASOK officials reportedly feel that the municipalities the party won and its increased clout in cities have given it new momentum to become the main opposition, in the stead of SYRIZA. “Alliances are achieved at the grassroots and in society, not in closed offices with summit meetings,” PASOK officials said.

For their part, SYRIZA officials took aim at socialist leader Nikos Androulakis over his apparent stance towards an alliance. “Unlike Mr Papandreou who even belatedly put things on the right footing, Mr Androulakis acted arrogantly,” party sources said.